Follow the Trail of Yes
I borrowed my title from Tricycle’s Daily Dharma
– short synopsis emails that show up every day in my inbox. I always end up reading the ones where the title captures my attention. A couple of days ago the title was Saying Yes Wholeheartedly and when I clicked to read the article, a different title, Follow the Yes Trail, grabbed my attention even more.
The article made me think of one of my favourite words, ikigai. It reminded me of how powerful and delightful ikigai is when we give it time and attention.
Reflect on these questions, especially as they relate to your everyday, ordinary life.
- what grabs your attention?
- makes you feel most alive?
- lifts your spirits?
- gives you energy?
- provides solace?
- brings a smile to your face?
- spontaneous joy?
- and meaningful moments
Oh yes:
What do you have that is more than you need? For me, it is books and pens and beautiful paper. This tells us something about ourselves.
And what about the people in our lives? Who do you love? Who are your kindred spirits? What do you love about your family and friends? We don’t need to pretend they have no flaws, rather, for now, just focus our attention on the things you like about them. The ways they have helped you and supported you. The quirks of personality that make you laugh. A look perhaps. an endearing habit. It is amazing how we can take our liking for granted and our criticisms too. And it is easy to complain about what our spouse or teenager or neighbour isn’t doing and forget why we like them.
Of the things you love and the people you love what do you miss out on because you are too busy? Can this change?
In our culture we often co-exist with overwhelm and we forget what it feels like to wholeheartedly dive into the moment where pleasure, joy, and delight can spontaneously arise. If we allow the time.
I love this line of thinking in the Tricycle article:
If you have a new idea you want to express, just do it. What is holding you back? We may think: it might not work. I might mess up. Don’t follow those voices. Just do it. Start right away. Don’t let the fear of failure stop you. If something works, great! If not, that’s fine too. It’s much more fun to live life joyfully than to always be afraid that something may not work.Things don’t always have to turn out the way you planned…just say YES!..follow the trail of yes…
(this next bit resonated with me)
…I don’t want to be the obstacle to what life is offering me. I say, Let’s do it!..don’t dwell on what didn’t happen, or what could have happened but didn’t…Take the leap and say yes!
(excerpted from Spontaneous Creativity by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche)
And you all know that there are times to say NO. Important times. We aren’t talking about formulas here. Just ideas. Things to try and see what happens. And today I loved thinking about the exuberance of Tenzin Rinpoche. It is springtime and the season of exuberance.
Notes
1:) I have a Billy Collins poem because it is spring and because April is International Poetry Month. The title is linked to the source.
2:) And for a wonderful experience I suggest the collaboration with the AUSLAND Couch Choir. AUSLAND is the acronym for Australian sign language. Please watch through to the end. When it goes silent, nothing is broken. That is how it is meant to be. You Are the Voice3:) Be friendly to yourselves and enjoy the spring. With my heartfelt thanks for showing up here, Trudy
Lovely.
Thank you, Kathryn.Best wishes, Trudy
The season of exuberance!! now there’s a yes! and Today captures that feeling, even in the rain 🙂 xoxo
Don’t you love that word, exuberance! And yes, the rain enhances, in this case, because I think of all the little roots and seedlings shouting for joy – “let’s grow.” As always, I thank you Janice for your encouraging words. Best wishes, Trudy
Just listened to/watched the Ausland choir – OH YES!! thank you for this piece of joy Trudy!!! xoxox
I loved it. Glad you took the time to listen.
Phew, I read this just in time! I was just about blowing my top at someone close to me for the usual: being late, being not this and that… Think about what you like about that person… hmm, in these moments, very useful Trudy. Truth is that I never like myself after the fortissimo complaining. Thank you.
Glad to hear it was helpful Gottfried.